Tongue-support.



No. 684,530. Patented Oct. 15, l90l.

L L. UMSTEAD.

TONGUESUPPORT.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Arrrvr Wri ten,

ISAAC L. UMSTEAD, OF OAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA.

romeussupPoar SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,530, dated October 15, 1901.

Application filed February 18, 1901. Serial Nor 47,822. (N0 model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo L. UMSTEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gamarillo, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented a new and useful Tongue-Support, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in tongue-supports.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of tongue-supports and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one adapted to be readily applied to a running-gear and capable of supporting the tongue and of relieving the necks of the animals of the weight of the said tongue.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a running-gear provided with a tonguesupport constructed in accordance with'this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tongue support detached. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawingsi 1 designates a spring extending longitudinallybeneaththe rearportion ofatongueZand connected at its front end with the same and at its rear end to the running gear in rear of the pivot 4 of the said tongue, and the said spring is adapted to support the weight of the tongue and is capable of counteracting any tendency of the front portion of the running gear tilting forward. By this construction the necks of the draft-animals are relieved of the Weight of the tongue and much of the strain incident to an unsupported tongue, The front end of the spring is curved upward and rearward, and it is secured to the tongue or pole 2 at a point between the ends thereof, preferably by being arranged within a socket 5; but any other-suitable means may be employed for this purpose. The socket is open at its front end, and the rearward1y-bent upwardlyextended front terminal 6 of the spring is secured within the socket 5 by suitable fastening devices The rear end 7' of the spring is curved upward and forwardly, sub

stantially the same as the front end 6, and it is secured to a supporting-bracket 8, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the front axle; but the rear end of the spring may be connected with the running-gear at any other desired point. The bracket 8, which is constructed of suitable metal, consists of a vertical body portion having an opening 9 to receive the spring and provided with a top flange or lip 10. The spring passes through the opening of the vertical body portion of the bracket, and its rear upwardly-curved end is secured by a suitable fastening device 11 to the top lip or flange, which is preferably segmental, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. The lip or flange is also provided near its ends with apertures 12 for the reception of bolts 13 or other suitable fastening devices for securing the bracket to the front axle or other portion of the running-gear. The upper portions of the bolts are diverged to enable them to clear the king-bolt and the fifth-wheel, and the lower portions of the bolts are threaded for the reception of nuts 14, which support a plate 15. the bracket, and the sides of the latter have their terminals bent at an angle, as shown. The bracket and the bottom transverse plate 15 are adapted to support the spring when the latter is subjected to severe strains which might result when the tongue is thrown downward by reason of a vehicle traveling over a rough roadway.

It will be seen that the tonguesnpport is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it is adapted to sustain the weight of the tongue and also to resist any forward tilting of the front portion of the running-gear. Furthermore, it will be apparent that when the front axle and the parts mounted thereon are detached from the rear portion of the running-gear the device will maintain the tongue or pole in substantial alinement with the front hounds and will enable the said pole or tongue to be counterbalanced and will facilitate assembling the parts of the running-gear.

What I claim is'- 1. The combination with a running gear, of a tongue-support consisting of a spring 1ocated beneath and extending longitudinally of the rear portion of the tongue and having The opening 9 extends to the bottom of its terminals curved upward and inwardly, the frontterminal of the spring being bent backward and secured to the lower face of the tongue in advance of the pivot thereof, and the rear end of the spring being curved forward and connected with the running-gear in rear of the pivot of the tongue, and a bracket supporting the rear end of the spring, substantially as described.

2. A tongue-support comprising a spring designed to be arranged longitudinally of a running-gear beneath the rear portion of the tongue thereof and having its terminals curved upward and inward over it, the front terminal being arranged to support the tongue, and a bracket having an opening to receive the spring and secured at its top to the rear end of the said spring and provided at its bottom with means for supporting the spring, substantially as described.

3. A tongue-support comprising a spring designed to be arranged longitudinally of the running-gear, beneath the rear portion of the tongue thereof, and having its terminals bent inward over it, the front terminal being arranged to support the tongue, the bracket provided with an opening to receive the spring and provided at its top with a lip or flange having openings, bolts passing through the openings and extending to the bottom of the bracket, and a plate connecting the lower ends of the bolts and extending beneath the spring, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ISAAC L. UMSTEAD. Witnesses:

F. W. TRAIN, L. O. BLAKE. 

